North African Campaign
The North African Campaign started in June of 1940, and lasted until May of 1943, as the Allies and Axis forces fought each other back and forth across the desert. They fought in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt, all along the North African coast.
North Africa was of great strategic value to both the Allies and the Axis powers. For the Allies, North Africa would aid in the expansion of their power, and it offered them the opportunity to open up a new front against the Axis. It would also help to ease German pressure on the Eastern Front, since the Soviet Union had been invaded by Germany.
The Axis powers also viewed the control of North Africa to be very attracting. The Axis’ goal during the campaign was to take away the Allies’ access to oil, and to increase their own access to it. They also wanted to cut off Britain from their resources in Asia and Africa.
In September 1940, Benito Mussolini wanted to expand his Italian empire in Africa, which at that time was composed of Libya and Ethiopia. He wanted to invade Egypt, which was a part of the British Empire. At first the Italians weren’t gaining much success, so Hitler, eager to extend his power to the Middle East, sent a force called the Afrika Korps to Mussolini’s side. They were equipped with modern weapons and supplies, and helped reinforce the Italian troops. After a suite of advances and retreats, the British were able to gain air and sea superiority in the Mediterranean, which helped push back the Axis. A turning point of the Campaign was the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942, where Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army was able to fight the Axis forces from Egypt all the way to Tunisia. Then in November of 1942, during the first invasion that the British and Americans had worked together on called Operation Torch, the Allied forces were able to force the surrender of the remaining Axis troops in Tunisia, marking the end of the North African Campaign.
During the campaigns, the Royal Canadian Air Force flew fighters above the battles in North Africa to reinforce the Allies. They also helped in the Algerian and Moroccan campaign (Operation Torch), and the Royal Canadian Navy supplied 29 ships and 3000 sailors for support.
The casualties on the Allies’ side were considered minimal compared the Axis’ losses. Over the course of the whole campaign, Germany and Italy lost nearly 900 000 troops, suffered 620 000 casualties, and close to 275 000 became prisoners of war of the Allies. The victory for the Allies allowed them to open up a second front against the Axis, it allowed for the later invasion of Sicily in 1943, it eliminated the Axis threat to the oilfields of the Middle East, and allowed the Allies continued access to Asia and Africa.
North Africa was of great strategic value to both the Allies and the Axis powers. For the Allies, North Africa would aid in the expansion of their power, and it offered them the opportunity to open up a new front against the Axis. It would also help to ease German pressure on the Eastern Front, since the Soviet Union had been invaded by Germany.
The Axis powers also viewed the control of North Africa to be very attracting. The Axis’ goal during the campaign was to take away the Allies’ access to oil, and to increase their own access to it. They also wanted to cut off Britain from their resources in Asia and Africa.
In September 1940, Benito Mussolini wanted to expand his Italian empire in Africa, which at that time was composed of Libya and Ethiopia. He wanted to invade Egypt, which was a part of the British Empire. At first the Italians weren’t gaining much success, so Hitler, eager to extend his power to the Middle East, sent a force called the Afrika Korps to Mussolini’s side. They were equipped with modern weapons and supplies, and helped reinforce the Italian troops. After a suite of advances and retreats, the British were able to gain air and sea superiority in the Mediterranean, which helped push back the Axis. A turning point of the Campaign was the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942, where Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army was able to fight the Axis forces from Egypt all the way to Tunisia. Then in November of 1942, during the first invasion that the British and Americans had worked together on called Operation Torch, the Allied forces were able to force the surrender of the remaining Axis troops in Tunisia, marking the end of the North African Campaign.
During the campaigns, the Royal Canadian Air Force flew fighters above the battles in North Africa to reinforce the Allies. They also helped in the Algerian and Moroccan campaign (Operation Torch), and the Royal Canadian Navy supplied 29 ships and 3000 sailors for support.
The casualties on the Allies’ side were considered minimal compared the Axis’ losses. Over the course of the whole campaign, Germany and Italy lost nearly 900 000 troops, suffered 620 000 casualties, and close to 275 000 became prisoners of war of the Allies. The victory for the Allies allowed them to open up a second front against the Axis, it allowed for the later invasion of Sicily in 1943, it eliminated the Axis threat to the oilfields of the Middle East, and allowed the Allies continued access to Asia and Africa.